Cycling Suffragettes - Inspirational Women of Leicester

Breeze Bike Rides in Leicester

On Sunday 11th November 2012, Breeze is once again supporting Cycles & Suffragettes, an event celebrating the Suffragette movement and inspirational women of Leicester. The ride will include key landmarks in these women's lives, across the city, ending at the Phoenix Digital Arts Centre for more events to celebrate their achievements.

Alice Hawkins was a suffragette and cyclist when it was highly risky to be a campaigner, and quite unusual to be a female bike rider. But Alice was a far from conventional woman.

Born in 1863 in Stafford, she left school at thirteen to spend her working life in a shoe factory. Alice knew that the working conditions and pay of women in industry were inferior to that of their male colleagues and became involved in the trade union.

In 1907 she attended a meeting of the Women’s Social and Political Union in Hyde Park and joined a march to the House of Commons to demand the vote for women. It was the first time she was arrested. Over the next seven years she was jailed five times.

It was Alice who invited the hugely influential Suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst to speak in Leicester.

Alice and her fellow campaigners spoke at factories and in villages around Leicestershire. Every Sunday she would get on her bicycle and ride for miles to take the message as far as she could amongst the working people of Leicestershire.

In June 1908 Alice was one of the speakers at a rally in London’s Hyde Park, attended by over 250,000 supporters. Over the years she was often shouted at and even assaulted but never gave up campaigning – or cycling.

She remained an active supporter of the union movement and workers until her death in 1946 at the age of 83.

It's a good idea to bring some water and you may also want to bring a snack however there will be places to buy refreshments after the ride.  Wearing a helmet is advisable; if you don’t have one please do not to worry you can still take part.  If you enjoy the bike ride and would like to come again perhaps you could look to buy one then.  If you’d like to dress up for the event you can – this is optional.

We really welcome newcomers to our rides; we will always ride at the pace of the slowest rider so no one is left behind.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Location

Ride Starting Point

The Curve, Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1SB LE1 1SB 

Meet the Champions

• Linda Goddard Hello,
  I am passionate about encouraging people to get on their bikes. I see Skyrides as a safer way to do this and to provide fun at the same time. I particularly want to encourage more women to get in the saddle!
  Cycling is not only a way to get fit but is also good for the environment. Think of the petrol saved!
  It is also a social activity, where you can make new friends.
  I look forward to meeting you on the rides.
• Shirley Ashford I am a Sky Ride Leader and Breeze Champion. I hope to help new or exisitng cyclists gain experience, confidence & skills on their bikes so they can enjoy their time on it and perhaps use them more.
  I am a leisure cyclist and also a memeber of a local cycling club. When possible I cycle commute to work.
• Indigo Kelly Hi,
  
  I really enjoy cycling as it makes me feel good.
  
  Whether I cycle for a few miles or loads of miles, it's just good to be out and about.
  
  I know it might sound cheesy BUT I love meeting new people and sharing stories - especially funny ones!
  
  Whether you are a beginner who would like to have a bit more confidence about getting on your bike or perhaps you are confident about cycling but don't like busy roads or maybe you just want to ride with like-minded women - come along and see what you think.
  
  Remember:
  
  you will receive a warm welcome and lots of encouragement
  
  the riders stick together so that no one gets left behind - we start and finish together
  
  the rides will be appropriate to ability levels and can be altered as needed
  
  I hope to see you at a ride - when you're ready.
  
  Kindest regards, Indi. :-)
  
  PS I am amazed to say that I recently completed John O'Groats to Lands End (931 miles in 13 days) and the pic shows me at JOG - keen to get going!
• Rebecca Pritchard
• Lindsey Ball I first got back into riding my bike when I completed the Sky Ride. The Sky Ride was such good fun and it was great to be able to ride my bike around a traffic-free town! Before becoming a Breeze Champion, I took part in local Breeze bike rides and thoroughly enjoyed them. Having met some lovely friends, found cycle routes and paths (and coffee shops) that I didn't know existed, I now ride my bike regularly both for pleasure and exercise as often as I can. :)